Hawthorn have captivated Melbourne, or at least the parts of Melbourne that don’t hate them, surging into an AFL semi-final with a brigade of 20-something young men with mullets and fades. They play fast, exciting footy, but that’s only part of the story. Behind them is a social media phenomenon largely driven by fans, but embraced by the Hawks players whose coach, the previously unsociable Sam Mitchell, has given them a licence for fun. That phenomenon is “Hokball”, and we’ve had a go at decoding it.

What is ‘Hokball’?

“Hok” is Gen Z slang for “Hawk”. It is, on social media at least, what “Crom” is to Adelaide (“Go Crom!“) and “Norf” is to North Melbourne. While we’re at it, a Sydney fan was in touch on the text after the Swans mowed down Greater Western Sydney on Saturday to snatch victory in their qualifying final: “Go Swom”.

The term “Hokball” appeared on Instagram and in TikTok hashtags last year, but has caught fire in 2024 as the Hawks launched their run to September. But it’s not easy to explain.

As one fan wrote on X: “Skibidi sigma. It means nothing. It means everything.”

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